Sikkim: 2 former SDF ministers, one fmr MLA joins SKM

In a significant development in Sikkim and a big boost to the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), former SDF ministers GM Gurung and C B Karki and former SDF MLA Chandramaya Subba joined the ruling SKM today in Rangpo.

Exit of Gurung, Barki and Subba can be seen as a big blow to Pawan Chamling led SDF because each of the three leaders have been SDF MLAs for at two terms and Gurung and Barki have also served as ministers.

Gurung was one of the founders of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and was one of the senior vice presidents of the party. Gurung has served 4 terms as minister. From 1994-1999 as minister Tourism, 1999-2004 as Agriculture minister, 2004-2009 as Education and Culture minister and from 2014-2019 as the PWD and Culture minister.

Barki and Subba are two-time former MLAs and Barki too has served as a minister of the state. Barki was the rural development minister from 2009-14.

Speaking to Northeast Live, GM Gurung said, “In July 2022 I resigned from the post of vice president after serving for 28 years. I have realised that politics is not for our own, it’s for society and country. To boost politics, I have decided to join the SKM”.

Former SDF MLA Subba who had resigned on Wednesday, wrote in her resignation letter to SDF party president Pawan Chamling that she is resigning from all the posts that she holds as well as from the primary membership of the SDF Party due to personal reasons. She had served the SDF party by holding different posts and portfolios from 1994 to date.

Along with the two former SDF ministers and the former SDF legislator, twenty members of the SDF party from the Yangthang constituency including the constituency level committee President also resigned from the SDF party.

Also Read: Ex-SDF MLA Chandra Maya Subba, 20 others resign from SDF, to join SKM